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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] at sacred-texts.com


Job Chapter 35

Job 35:2

job 35:2

(Job 35:1-16)

more than--rather as in Job 9:2; Job 25:4 : "I am righteous (literally, my righteousness is) before God." The English Version, however, agrees with Job 9:17; Job 16:12-17; Job 27:2-6. Job 4:17 is susceptible of either rendering. Elihu means Job said so, not in so many words, but virtually.

Job 35:3

job 35:3

Rather, explanatory of "this" in Job 35:2, "That thou sayest (to thyself, as if a distinct person) What advantage is it (thy integrity) to thee? What profit have I (by integrity) more than (I should have) by my sin?" that is, more than if I had sinned (Job 34:9). Job had said that the wicked, who use these very words, do not suffer for it (Job 21:13-15); whereby he virtually sanctioned their sentiments. The same change of persons from oblique to direct address occurs (Job 19:28; Job 22:17).

Job 35:4

job 35:4

companions--those entertaining like sentiments with thee (Job 34:8, Job 34:36).

Job 35:5

job 35:5

Elihu like Eliphaz (Job 22:2-3, Job 22:12) shows that God is too exalted in nature to be susceptible of benefit or hurt from the righteousness or sin of men respectively; it is themselves that they benefit by righteousness, or hurt by sin.

behold the clouds, which are higher than thou--spoken with irony. Not only are they higher than thou, but thou canst not even reach them clearly with the eye. Yet these are not as high as God's seat. God is therefore too exalted to be dependent on man. Therefore He has no inducement to injustice in His dealings with man. When He afflicts, it must be from a different motive; namely, the good of the sufferer.

Job 35:6

job 35:6

what doest--how canst thou affect Him?

unto him--that can hurt Him? (Jer 7:19; Pro 8:36).

Job 35:7

job 35:7

(Psa 16:2; Pro 9:12; Luk 17:10).

Job 35:9

job 35:9

(Ecc 4:1.) Elihu states in Job's words (Job 24:12; Job 30:20) the difficulty; the "cries" of "the oppressed" not being heard might lead man to think that wrongs are not punished by Him.

Job 35:10

job 35:10

But the reason is that the innocent sufferers often do not humbly seek God for succor; so to their "pride" is to be laid the blame of their ruin; also because (Job 35:13-16) they, as Job, instead of waiting God's time in pious trust, are prone to despair of His justice, when it is not immediately visible (Job 33:19-26). If the sufferer would apply to God with a humbled, penitent spirit, He would hear.

Where, &c.-- (Jer 2:6, Jer 2:8; Isa 51:13).

songs--of joy at deliverance (Psa 42:8; Psa 149:5; Act 16:25).

in the night--unexpectedly (Job 34:20, Job 34:25). Rather, "in calamity."

Job 35:11

job 35:11

Man's spirit, which distinguishes him from the brute, is the strongest proof of God's beneficence; by the use of it we may understand that God is the Almighty helper of all sufferers who humbly seek Him; and that they err who do not so seek Him.

fowls--(see on Job 28:21).

Job 35:12

job 35:12

There--rather, "Then" (when none humbly casts himself on God, Job 35:10). They cry proudly against God, rather than humbly to God. So, as the design of affliction is to humble the sufferer, there can be no answer until "pride" gives place to humble, penitent prayer (Psa 10:4; Jer 13:17).

Job 35:13

job 35:13

vanity--that is, cries uttered in an unhumbled spirit, Job 35:12, which applies in some degree to Job's cries; still more to those of the wicked (Job 27:9; Pro 15:29).

Job 35:14

job 35:14

Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him--(as a temporal deliverer; for he did look for a Redeemer after death, Job 19:25-27; which passage cannot consistently with Elihu's assertion here be interpreted of "seeing" a temporal "redeemer"), Job 7:7; Job 9:11; Job 23:3, Job 23:8-9; yet, judgment . . . ; therefore trust . . . But the Hebrew favors MAURER, "How much less (will God . . . regard, Job 35:13), since thou sayest, that He does not regard thee." So in Job 4:19. Thus Elihu alludes to Job's words (Job 19:7; Job 30:20).

judgment--that is, thy cause, thy right; as in Psa 9:16; Pro 31:5, Pro 31:8.

trust--rather, "wait thou" on Him, patiently, until He take up thy cause (Psa 37:7).

Job 35:15

job 35:15

As it is, because Job waited not trustingly and patiently (Job 35:14; Num 20:12; Zep 3:2; Mic 7:9), God hath visited . . . ; yet still he has not taken (severe) cognizance of the great multitude (English Version wrongly, "extremity") of sins; therefore Job should not complain of being punished with undue severity (Job 7:20; Job 11:6). MAURER translates: "Because His anger hath not visited (hath not immediately punished Job for his impious complaints), nor has He taken strict (great) cognizance of his folly (sinful speeches); therefore," &c. For "folly," UMBREIT translates with the Rabbins, "multitude." GESENIUS reads with the Septuagint and Vulgate needlessly, "transgression."

Job 35:16

job 35:16

Apodosis to Job 35:15.

in vain--rashly.


Next: Job Chapter 36